Stay Free

The task of teaching in Thailand was clearly taking a lot out of us. We could literally feel our focus of this trip shifting from living life to the fullest and living for adventure to existing in a foreign country just to please and serve others. The restrictions that a secluded area and harsh schedules posed were too unsatisfactory and it was time for a change.

As the obsession for freedom and exploration grew and began to conquer our every thought and conversation, we mapped out a rough itinerary for where we would venture. Within a few days, we packed up all of our belongings, ended our teaching contract and said our goodbyes. On the last day of June we left Kalasin and moved on to Laos.

The road to Luang Prabang was quite jagged and coarse. It reminded me of a scene right out of the show Ice Road Truckers where the roads are barely paved and obviously too narrow for two lane traffic. There were no guard rails or safety precautions taken along the winding mountain paths, just a cliff-side fruit stand every hour or so, a mobile gas station consisting of 2 young boys and a girl walking with gas tanks, and a shack with “Toi let” written on the outside and a 2 and 6 year old brother-sister pair collecting 2,000 kip for entry. We did, however, make it safely over the range within 7 hours and are happy to be here.

We’ve toured Vientiane by bicycle, floated down the crazy river bar scene in Vang Viene, and will be heading to Nong Khiaw, Muang Ngoi, and Muang Khua in the high north soon. Laos is wildly gorgeous and natural, almost too hard to explain with words. We wish you were here.